What's Tom Corbett Up to Now? (Private takeover of PA Lottery?)

"HARRISBURG -- Pennsylvania received one bid in response to its search for a private manager to run the state's lottery system, officials announced this afternoon."

"United Kingdom-based Camelot Global Services LLC was the only company to submit a bid outlining how much revenue it pledged to raise over a 20-year management contract."

"Gov. Tom Corbett's administration briefed legislative staffers on the Camelot bid during a conference call this afternoon. The Department of Revenue posted a document listing the company's profit commitments on its website, though additional materials will remain confidential until a final decision is made."

1. Now, HERE is where it gets interesting:

"The administration already has begun discussions with union officials about possible layoffs that would result. The agreement with the private lottery manager would require they retain 70 state employees, but Revenue spokeswoman Elizabeth Brassell said the bidder has expressed interest in the possibility of hiring some of the lottery's other 160 employees."

<snip>

"The state's lottery is one of the nation's top performers, which is among the reasons why Democratic lawmakers and union officials have questioned going the privatization route."

"Last year, the lottery posted a record $3.2 billion in ticket sales, producing a profit of nearly $961 million to put into programs for senior citizens. It administrative costs, around 2 percent of ticket sales, are among the lowest of lotteries operating in the nation."

"David Fillman, executive director of American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees Council 13, said, “There is no good reason to dismantle the lottery. The administration has sold out our seniors and our members without one public hearing; without any legislative oversight and without anyone knowing how they crafted the terms and cut this deal."

"Keep in mind that our lottery is not broken. We’ve set a record for total sales and net profit the last two years. The bottom line here is that every single dollar that this firm is paid comes at the expense of our seniors.”

25. That is the history he has with the Commonwealth... if it isn't broken, privatize it!

Privatize (Charter) schools and debase the budget.
Privatize the liquor control board's package stores
Privatize the lottery (which I don't play, but take your point well)
Privatize natural resources, sucking everything from good water to bad, stinking up every fresh breath to produce shale gas for the oil companies.

I feel all of his privatization at the local level and I applauded the Post Gazette's picture of Kathleen Kane's swearing in because I hope the first thing she gets in order is the way he, as attorney general ignored Sandusky.

I'd love to shove Act 13 up his and the collective assess of all members of ALEC
I'd love to shove him in a jail cell with Jerry, who can make him one of his kids.

2. Shouldn't Corbett be preparing for his indictment since he helped Jerry Sandusky dodge scrutiny

for a few years while Corbett was Attorney General charged with examining the evidence building against Sandusky, and once he became governor, Corbett then sent millions of taxpayer dollars (hush money) to Sandusky's foundation?

23. Absolutely, The Club for Growth

24. Yep. Pat Toomey was President of the Club for Growth (in between runs for the Senate).

"In 2004, Toomey came within 17,000 votes of beating Sen. Arlen Specter in a Republican primary even though the GOP establishment, including President George W. Bush and then-Sen. Rick Santorum, supported Specter."

"The Club considered Specter a Republican-in-name-only, or “RINO,” and a liberal Republican who had to go, said Barney Keller, Club’s spokesman. By 2010, Specter changed his party registration to Democrat and lost the primary to former Democratic Rep. Joe Sestak. Toomey, who was the Club’s president from 2005 through 2009, defeated Sestak in the general election. The Club for Growth spent $2.6 million on Toomey’s behalf."

"Do we need to discuss the $21,000 Scaife donated to Toomey For Senate between 2003 and 2009?"

Hmmm. Richard Mellon Scaife, Pat Toomey, The Club for Growth, the Tea Party. It's all very cozy, isn't it?

12. I emailed my state senator and rep but they are both repubs so I know it's a waste of my time!

15. It is never a waste of time.

They have to hear from sane people....and if they hear from enough of them, they do (at least a little) hesitate.

I have had some of the most insane answers from some of the lawmakers who represent me, but I have a right to let them know how I feel. At least they cannot say truthfully that they heard nothing against some dipshit idea.

20. Things that make you say hmmmmmmmm - contractor says no increase in rate of net revenues to PA.

If you read deep down into one of these newspaper articles on the subject, you will find out that the projected rate of increase in new profits that the Lottery provides to PA. per year will not increase with this deal. The British company projects the same rate of increase in net profits to the state that has been occurring over the last 10 years (while it was managed by the PA. Dept. of Revenue).

Then why do it? Why eliminate the jobs and health insurance that supports 160 Pennsylvania families? So you can brag to your teabagger donors that you "privatized" something that was working fine already?

Why did all of the other competitors drop out of the bidding process? Was it because they realized they couldn't run the Lottery better than it is already being run, and still make a profit?